Latest revision as of 18:21, 31 July 2025

[edit] A brief profile

R Satya, July 26, 2016: The Times of India

After a phenomenal run last season, much was expected of ace Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri this year. The 29-year old has had splendid days in the office alright, but has been a bit of a letdown, especially with regards to consistency. Just one top-10 finish in 20 starts on the PGA Tour may not be an ideal record to get into Rio - where golf is making a return after 112 years - but the quadrennial extravaganza is a different ballgame altogether. With over a billion hopes pinned on him for a medal, the World No. 62 from Bangalore, said he was not short on confidence and prepared to play his heart out. Excerpts:

Unlike regular Tour events, you will be playing for the flag in Rio. How different will the approach be?

It will definitely be a lot more aggressive in terms of playing because it is a strokeplay event and you are not going to come anything other than first, second or third, ideally only first. You will see a lot of aggressive play pretty much from everybody. A lot of players will not play it like they would play a regular Tour event. The strategy too would be totally different.

Which of the two is stressful, playing for the country or a Tour event?

I don't know about the stress really. When we play regular Tour events, we do it week in week out so we kind of get used to it and there is always the next week, or the next Major or the next tournament. But the Olympics is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many. Hopefully I will still have a few more Olympics left in me after this. But I think the whole idea of the Olympics is also to be a part of the experience and enjoy it. It is not just about performing. Performance is important, but I don't think that is the be all and end all at the Games.

As the top-ranked Indian, you will carry the nation's hopes, how primed are you for Rio?

I am very excited. It is a great honour, a great privilege to be in my position. It is something that I enjoy and keen to do my best. I'm looking forward to not just carrying the hopes but also delivering and coming back with something to show for all our efforts.You had mentioned that Olympic medallist Anirban sounds better than Olympian Anirban...Yes, definitely. So many people who are lucky enough to be Olympians, but there are only a few people who have the honour of being medallists, especially in India. So that is something that I aspire to now that I have that opportunity. Let's see, there will be nothing less than 110 per cent effort from my side and hopefully it will be good enough and I can play well.

What are your thoughts on the big names withdrawing due to the Zika virus threat?

It's unfortunate, sad for the game. It is not what anyone would have hoped for, especially for this event. I am sure they have lots of concern and that's why they have taken their decisions. You may not have the current top 3 or 4 players in the world, but it is still a pretty strong line-up of stars.

Did you at any point think about pulling out?No, never. It's all about your priorities and the opportunity that an Olympics presents to me is top priority. It is bigger than what a lot of other players might look at the event as. For me it was an easy decision.

How has your family responded to the Zika threat?

We have been educated about it. It also helps that my father is a doctor and my uncle is also a pathologist. I have spoken to both my father and uncle about it and spoken to the doctors about it, obviously my wife and I have been completely aware of what are the precautions needed and what are the realistic chances of contracting something like Zika and even if we do what are the measures thereafter. If you are well informed about the situation, there is lots of ways to handle it. It is not a situation that cannot be factored, like it has been made out to look.

Do you think the spate of withdrawals will affect the future of the sport in the Olympics?

Unfortunately, it may have an adverse impact. It is difficult to comment right now. Next year is when they will review all the sports for the 2024 Olympics and I am just hoping that the golf event in Rio is a big success. With all the controversy leading into the Games, I know it doesn't help, but if it is a really good tight affair, it may. I think if one of us from the lesser known golfing countries - India, Thailand, Malaysia or Chinese Taipei - can make an impact then it will serve the purpose of the exercise of adding golf to the Olympics. I think it is important we go there and play our hearts out.

[edit] 2014

The Times of India

Dec 31 2014

(GOLF)

This was a terrific season for Anirban Lahiri, who clinched his first overseas title in Indonesia to enter the top 100 in the world. He won the Macau Open too. The Bangalore golfer rose to the No. 1 rank in Asia in 2014, helping him bag the Arjuna Award. Marrying long-time girlfriend Ipsa Jamwal brought in much luck for the 27-year-old, who qualified for the European Tour for the first time in his career. The World No. 64 also earned a British Open berth. His accomplishments prompted Forbes magazine to include him in their top-100 celebrity list.

[edit] 2015

The Times of India, May 9, 2015

In the last couple of years, Lahiri has become the poster boy of Indian golf with his consistent performances at home and overseas. The 27-year-old won two titles on the Asian Tour last year and another pair in a span of three weeks on the European Tour earlier this year to break into the top-100 of the World Rankings. The Bengaluru-based professional's feats also helped him become the Asia No. 1 and the third Indian after Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal to appear in the Augusta Masters.Now ranked No. 35 in the world, he has set his sights on bagging a berth on the USPGA Tour.Sky's the limit.

[edit] First Indian to qualify for Presidents Cup

The Times of India, Sep 09 2015

Anirban Lahiri will make a historic appearance at the Presidents Cup in Korea after qualifying on merit for the International Team to face the United States next month. Lahiri, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader and twice a winner this season, finished seventh on the International Team rankings. “I can't describe the feeling because growing up, you look up to events like the Ryder Cup and feel terrible about it as you can't be a part of something like that. But thankfully , we have the Presidents Cup for us to aim for and it is an achievement to make the team,“ said Lahiri, who is currently ranked 40th in the world. “I know Jeev (Milkha Singh) was really close to getting in one year when he was in the world's top-50 and unfortunately, he couldn't due to injury. It would have done a lot of good for golf, not just in India but in Asia.

[edit] 2017

[edit] June: tied for second place

Jun 06 2017: The Times of India

Lahiri Delivers Career-Best Finish On PGA Tour After Three Missed Cuts

Anirban Lahiri played so well in June 2017 that he wished he could have kept going. “I would have liked maybe four or five holes more, actually,“ Lahiri said after shooting a 7-under 65 to tie for second with Rickie Fowler in the Memorial, three shots behind Jason Dufner at Muirfield Village.

The Indian star had seven birdies in a bogey-free round.He got better as the tournament progressed, following an opening 74 with rounds of 70 and 69. The tied second finish was the best PGA Tour result for Lahiri, bettering his 2015 PGA Championship tied fifth finish and tied third 3 finish at 2016 CIMB Classic. The result which was worth $765,600, his best ever in his career, also sealed his 2018 PGA Tour card, as also cemented his place for the season-ending FedEx Cup play-offs. But Lahiri will miss out on the US Open as his finish will only move him from 90th in world ranking to 65th and top 60 are assured a berth in the year's second Major.

He will however make significant gains in the Presi dent's Cup standings and move up from 22nd to around 15th, as top 10 are assured of automatic berth and two more come through Captain's pick.

[edit] 2022

[edit] Record ₹17cr prize at Players 

March 16, 2022: The Times of India

Ace Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri nearly ended his seven-year jinx on the PGA Tour, but fell a stroke short to finish second in the $20 million Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Monday. Lahiri walked away with a pay cheque of $2. 18 million (Rs 16. 7 crore), the biggest of his career, and probably the biggest ever for an Indian sportsperson from a oneweek event. It was the 34-year-old’s second career runner-up finish.